By Chinyere Nwachukwu
Some students of the University of Lagos have called on security operatives from the Sabo Police station to release some of their colleagues arrested during a peaceful protest without delay.
The students who thronged the main gate of the institution at about 8 a.m. were agitating the hike in obligatory fees as stipulated by management of the university.
Recall that the institution’s management, through a statement, issued on Aug. 21, had announced an adjustment in obligatory fees in the university.
It noted that the adjustment which would take effect from the first semester of 2023/2024 academic session, was in view of the prevailing economic realities and the need for the university to be able to meet its obligation to its students, staff and municipal service providers among others.

It further noted that the mandatory charges for one academic session for new undergraduate students include N126, 325, for courses without laboratory/studio.

The statement also indicated N176,325 as mandatory charges for one academic session for courses with laboratory and studio.

A further breakdown of the approved mandatory charges for one academic year or session for returning students showed that they would pay N100,750 for courses without laboratory and studio, among others.

Mr Balogun Ibrahim, a student leader of the institution, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview that there was no going back on their struggle to get the fees reviewed downward.

“The reason we are here is to register our displeasure over the about 500 per cent increase in the obligatory fees, by management of the university. Before now, we went into dialogue with management, which I personally attended.

“Another student in person of Oyeolumade Oluwakemi was also there. Now, management has refused to honour the resolution of that meeting that happened on Aug. 2.

“We were told that we will be engaged again over the matter but up on till as we speak, we are yet to hear from management.

“Now as concerned student leaders, we have received a lot of bashing from our fellow students, that we are keeping quiet and nothing is being done to defend their interest.

“These students, especially the new and even returning ones, are unable to pay these current fees; as we speak, the statistics of persons that have been able to pay these fees is not up to 10 per cent,” he said.

According to him, with the current hike in the obligatory fees, the students have resorted to crowd funding for themselves, while wondering, how many of such students will benefit from such initiative.

He called on the university management to see reason with the students as their purpose for protesting was not an attack on the institution and their persons.

Ibrahim, who is also the Faculty of Education President elect, added that there was the need for a round table discussion that would include students representatives, so as to get their voices heard.

He noted that the such dialogue would ensure that they were carried along effectively in matters that concerned them, as well as collectively find lasting solutions to challenges.

The student leader further expressed disatisfaction over the way security operatives came after them, even when the protest was peaceful and without arms, or any show of disrespect to constituted authorities.

“This morning, when we converged at the UNILAG junction, some security operatives from the Sabo division, swooped on us, teargased us shot at our banners and took some of our colleagues away with them.

“As we speak, a number of our students, I don’t know the exact figure, have been arrested and taken to Panti. So, we also demand for the immediate release of these our colleagues, else, we will not leave the street,” he stated.

Mr Miracle Yemo, who also identified himself as a student leader, said management should as a matter of urgency, reconsider its stand, considering the current economic reality in the country.

According to him, management of the university has made efforts in addressing the protesting students but had yet to address the purpose for the protest.

Reacting to the development, Prof. Musa Obalola, Dean, Student Affairs Division of the university, told NAN that the university was not unmindful of the presence of some indigent students.

According to him, the hike in obligatory charges is not peculiar to the university alone, and has nothing to do with tuition, but rather, basic needs that would ensure quality teaching and learning outcomes.

He noted that the university’s current obligatory fees was one of the least, when compared with that of other federal universities across the country.

“Before now, what the university was charging as fees was between N18,000 to N20,000 a session. This has been on for about 20 years now, these charges remained the same.

“But we have come to a state where these charges can no longer cater for our present needs, if we must compete favourably with our counterparts globally.

“Government has actually been doing a lot but if we must be sincere, we will realize that we can no longer fund free education as a country, considering the current economic reality on ground.

“We can no longer continue this way. So, what we did was to review the obligatory fees which has to do with the use of laboratory, medicals, library, sports ad studio among others, in a bid to give our students the much desired quality teaching,” the dean stated.

He said that management had put some measures in place, especially for indigent students, who might be struggling with payment of fees, to help cushion the effect of the increase.

Obalola listed some of the measures as ‘Adopt a Student Project’, whereby management had been approaching some notable personalities in the society to assist in taking up responsibility of some students.

He also mentioned the ‘Work and Study Project’ coordinated by the Student Affairs Division, among others.

“As we speak, it may interest you to know that the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, has proposed to adopt a medical student and this is coming from her meagre salary,” the don stated.

He claimed that most of the alleged students that participated in the protest were not students of the university.

According to him, the university has been engaging the students from time to time on issues concerning the workings of the institution.

“These ones that are protesting here today could have been recruited from other places and this could also have a political undertone, going by the current atmosphere in the country.

“It is not about University of Lagos. Some persons could want to masquerade behind protest to perpetrate evil. And that is why I say substantially, most of those parading themselves as students that are protesting are not our students.

“Our students are currently on vacation and I will admonish them to remain the law abiding students that they have always been.

“The security operatives may have responded based on intelligence report on plans to hijack the protest by some criminal elements. ” he said. (NAN)

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Edited by Oluwole Sogunle

By Aderogba George

Hope Raisers Global Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), on Wednesday rounded off its 16 weeks teaching activities with children from the Durumi Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camp, Abuja.

The teaching activities which centred on different topics ranging from moral, security, hygiene and others, were carried out with children from the ages of two to teenagers aged 16.

Mrs Angonimi David-Imeh, the founder of the NGO, disclosed that the sole aim of the teachings was to move against social vices among Nigerian youths, and the need to emulate moral behaviors.

“The teaching activities were for children from age two to age 16, and it dwelled mostly on how to carry on with moral behaviours within the society.

“We believe in sustainable development, one way to see progress in anything you are doing is to be patient, copy, edit and repeat process with little tweaks here and there, and most especially it must be need driven.

“We have spent almost 2 years in this camp and our acronym states thus DEED which means: Discover, Educate, Empower and Deploy.

“We have been doing all at various times, but we are repeating processes that haven’t given maximum results yet, we repeat processes according to their needs from time to time.

“This is a strategy used in economic planning,” she stressed.

David-Imeh stated that the children are living in an area where negative vices are “the order of the day, hence one of the reasons for putting up the teaching idea, all in the aim not to make them emulate bad characters.

“As one who also volunteers with the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), and as a national leader in the women committee, I am aware of the causes of insecurity in Nigeria communities.”

She stated that one of the ways to curb insecurity in the society is to help children to imbibe the right culture.

“We also need to make them know and understand the disadvantages of being a threat to the society and pointing their attention to a desirable future.

“To build a better society, we must engage indigent children because they are vulnerable and susceptible to negativity,” she said.

She also buttressed that children should be caught early enough as it is often said “Children are future leaders”. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

By Clara Egbogota

The Delta State Governor, Mr Sheriff Oborevwori, has called on corps members posted to their various places of primary assignment to help the state governments in providing quality educational services in their host communities.

Oborevwori, represented by the Chief of Staff (COS), Mr Johnson Erijo, said this on Tuesday, at the closing ceremony of the orientation of Batch B Stream II members, at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Orientation Camp, Issele Uku.

“Delta State will utilise your services in all spheres of life, and particularly,  in the area of teaching our young ones in our various schools.

“You are, therefore, to ensure that positive values and knowledge are imparted to these children that God has placed you to serve,” he said.

He urged the corps members to see their service year as a mark of honour and call to service in recognition of their worth to Nigeria.

“I enjoin you, therefore, to use this opportunity to make new friends, break new grounds and gain a better understanding of Nigeria and the people of Delta State.

“You are encouraged to devote some of your time to self-development and reflection on your plans for post-service life.

“Please, avoid needless travels as the risks involved are many,” he said.

He said that the government was working to lay a solid foundation, so that the future, where they aspire to be leaders, would hold genuine hopes and bright prospects for a greater nation.

“Our country is currently passing through some economic challenges, but our great nation will come out of it, stronger, better and more prosperous.

“Please be confident of a fairer economic, social and political stability in that future where you will surely be its leaders,” he said.

The State Coordinator of NYSC, Mr Olusegun Alao, urged the corps members to see themselves as leaders of today rather than leaders of tomorrow.

Alao said that he was confident that the trainings they acquired during the orientation course had prepared them.

“I congratulate, you my dear corps members, for successfully completing the 21 days orientation course.

“I commend you all for your courage and commitment which led to the success recorded.

“I, therefore, enjoin you to continue with the Post-Camp SAED Training wherever you are posted to.

“The government and people of Delta State will appreciate your contributions to the development of Delta in the areas of education, infrastructure and healthcare delivery during your one year service.

“I assure you that your contributions will be printed in gold in the history of the State,” the coordinator said.

He said it had been the tradition of the state government to continue to recognise hard work among corps members deployed to Delta State.

“I humbly renew our request for continued infrastructural development of this camp in order to conveniently accommodate and cater for the welfare of corps members that will be deployed to the state,” Alao said.(NAN)(nannews.com.ng)
Editing by Oluwole Sogunle

Racketeering

By Funmilayo Adeyemi

Abuja, Sept. 5, 2023 (NAN) The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) has debunked the notion that it conspired with management staff in recent job racketeering in colleges of education being probed by the National Assembly.

The President of the union, Dr Smart Olugbeko, disclosed this on the sideline of its leadership training workshop in Abuja on Tuesday.

The workshop was in collaboration with the Committee of Provosts in Nigeria, with the theme: “Leadership Skills Development for Effective Industrial Relations in the College of Education System”.

Olugbeko said the union had been at the forefront of confronting impunity going on with the issues of employment in the colleges.

“What we discovered is that since the introduction of IPPIS in 2020, it has been practically impossible for provosts or management of councils to carry out employment without interference from the Head of service (HOS).

“So for now, even when we have lecturers or members of staff that left the system, the provosts cannot replace them. What we do have is a situation whereby the provost will have to apply to HOS that they want to replace those that left.

“But you discover that some of these applications will stay with the HOS for one to two years without any reply and in the course of doing that we discover that at the end of the day, it is always followed with a kind of waiver that there shouldn’t be advertisment.

“And as a union, we have been opposing this vehemently that how could it be possible for a provost to recruit about 200 staff members without advertisement and they bring them into our system.

“At the end, the provosts always tell us that those recruited are being donated to them from some of the people in government and some of the time, we fought and ensure that this impunity is not taken but the more we fought, the more we couldn’t achieve more,” he said.

Olugbeko said the workshop was designed to equip its members with better capacity to deal with issues of industrial concern to ensure industrial tranquility in the colleges.

He added that this was in a bid to let members and provosts understand the rules of engagement so as to work amicably at ensuring peace and progress on the campuses.

He also charged the government to take teacher education seriously, saying several attempts had been made to government on how teacher education should be repositioned.

“One of the ways of getting it done is to get our institutions well-funded to be able to produce quality teachers because if you do not produce quality teachers, you will not have teachers with capacity to be able to teach at all levels.

“If government has not been able to fund our colleges appropriately then what comes out of that is our inability to produce teachers of high quality.

“Government must take teacher education seriously and place it in the front of its list to be able to produce capable teachers so that schools will have quality teaching and learning,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Director, Colleges of Education, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr Uchenna Uba, said it is important to equip union leaders with the necessary leadership skills to navigate the complex landscape of industrial relations and cultivate an environment of mutual respect.

Represented by the Deputy Director in the ministry, Mrs Iyabode Ali, said the ministry was aware of the agitations of the unions and firmly dedicated to addressing and resolving them.

She said the ministry had commenced the payment of the Need Assessment Fund and all the beneficiaries had received 50 per cent of the fund.

She said the it had also commenced the process of mainstreaming the staff members of demonstration schools in line with the minimum standards and many more .(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

By Funmilayo Adeyemi

The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, has set up a eight-member committee to drive education roadmap in the country.

Mamman, while inaugurating the committee in Abuja on Tuesday, said the committee had four weeks timeframe to come up with plans that would help transform the sector.

He said there was need to kickstart the national assignment as ministers on a clearly defined path, to craft a turn around in the fortunes of the country.

While saying that the event marked a pivotal moment in the nation’s pursuit of educational excellence and societal development, he highlighted the urgency of their mission, emphasising the need for clear direction to transform Nigeria’s fortunes.

The minister, who acknowledged the challenging road ahead, noted that Nigerians eagerly anticipate a quick turnaround in all sectors under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, with education as a cornerstone for positive change.

According to Mamman, President Tinubu’s vision for his administration, focused on improving the lives of Nigerians and fostering compassion, underscores the importance of the education sector in addressing societal issues.

“I must confess that your assignment is not going to be an easy one because Nigerians are looking forward to the administration of President Bola Tinubu GCFR to do a quick turn-around in all sectors of the economy.

“Education is the fulcrum to galvanise the needed changes to make Nigeria hold her own in the comity of nations.

” The president has clearly laid out his vision for his administration and it is anchored on improving the lives of Nigerians in a manner that not just reflects our humanity but encourages compassion towards one another and duly rewards our collective efforts to resolve the social ills that seek to divide us,” he said.

Mamman said that President Tinubu’s commitment to retrain 10.5 million Nigerian out-of-school children with valuable skills places education as a top priority.

He said there was therefore need for a clear roadmap and framework to guide the ministry’s efforts in achieving these ambitious goals.

The minister urged the committee to embrace technology and steer towards a digital future, emphasising that education should not merely exist for its sake but contribute significantly to individual and societal development.

“As Nigeria looks towards having quality education, it is important that the curriculum, from basic to tertiary level, meets the demands of our times and needs of the society.

“I am happy to note that work had commenced at some levels, especially the secondary and tertiary level. What we need to know is to what extent can what we already have met contemporary demands of education globally and if not sufficient, how to address them.

” I do expect that issues of Financial Autonomy in tertiary institutions, access and equity, research and innovation as well as the government-industry-academic nexus, would occupy your thoughts.

“In the same vein, the global competitiveness of our educational system should not escape your scrutiny.

“One thing I must not fail to add is that we must have an education system that embraces technology and move into a digital future where our education responds to the demands of the society,” he said.

The committee comprises Dr Nuhu Yakubu as Chairman while Prof. Ernest Ojukwu, Prof. Sa’ad Umar, Shulamite Paul, Dr Garba Ibrahim, Prof. Ismail Junaidu, Hajia Hindatu Abdullahi and Mr Joseph Achede are members. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

By Ige Adekunle

Prof. Peter Okebukola, Former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), has called on African countries to invest more in education in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Okebukola made the call at the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Africa Forum 2023 on Monday at Covenant University, Ota, Ogun.

The conference has as its theme as: “Education Africa 2030 and Beyond-Sustainability and Social Impact in an African Context”.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the two-day conference organised by Covenant University in collaboration with QS will end on Tuesday.

The former NUC boss said the implementation of policies on areas like education and food security require political will from both the leaders and followers.

He noted that looking at the SDGs; most African countries are stil far from achieving them due to poor investment in education.

He said that continents outside Africa are already moving closer to achieving the goals by 2030 as a result of their massive investments in education.

“The 55 countries in Africa are far from investing enough in education which will make it difficult to achieve SDGs by 2030.

“There is the need for African countries both the leadership and followership to strive towards putting more money in education, because there is need for a greater investment in education.

“And within the greater investment framework, they should ensure that there are no leakages into pockets,” he said.

Okebukola further appealed to all stakeholders to do the needful by tackling corruption so that by 2030 and beyond, African countries will get to the Promised Land.

He explained that the conference was about using education as a catalyst to accelerate and drive attainment of the SDGs.

In his opening remarks, Dr David Oyedepo, Chancellor, Covenant University, said that every great nation is a function of the valuable contributions from individuals and organisations within its domain.

Oyedepo stressed the need for African countries to find indigenous solutions to their problems through massive investment in education.

“A lot of potential are wasting away because Africans are not committed to solving their problems,” he said.

The chancellor said it is time for Africa to look inwards and proffer numerous solutions by investing more in education.

Similarly, Ms Veronica Omeni, Principal Consultant &Forum Chairman, QS, United Kingdom, said that the Africa Forum 2023 was not just a conference but a meeting of minds with lofty ideas.

Omeni said it was a call to invest in data-driven strategic approaches to designing, managing and developing education that meets the needs of Africans in an African context.

She said the need for more investment in quality education had never been more urgent, adding that it acts as a catalyst for profound societal change and empowering individuals to transform their lives and communities.

Also, Dr Ashwin Fernandes, Executive Director, Africa, Middle East/South, Asia, QS United Kingdom, said the focus was to explore and strategise on educational approaches and systems that can foster sustainability and encourage social impact.

Fernandes said that the theme of the forum is pertinent, as it stands at the height of a rapidly evolving world.

“There is a profound understanding that the role of education remains as pivotal as ever, serving as the cornerstone for cultivating sustainable growth and driving meaningful social change within our African communities.” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

By Funmilayo Adeyemi

UNICEF Nigeria in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education is celebrating a significant milestone as the Nigeria Learning Passport (NLP) platform reaches 500,000 users.

UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Cristian Munduate, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Saturday.

Munduate said the achievement underscored the platform’s commitment to offer tailored educational pathways that cater for a diverse range of users including students, teachers, parents, and caregivers.

“Reaching half a million users is not just a number; it reflects the impact we are making in ensuring every child and young individual in Nigeria gets the opportunity to learn, regardless of their circumstance.

“Our goal, in collaboration with FME, is to reach 1.5 million NLP users by the end of 2024, and with the unwavering support from our partners, we are well on our way,” she said.

She added that digital learning had emerged as the future of education, and by investing in the Nigeria Learning Passport, Nigeria is paving the way for children and young adults to thrive in a digital economy.

According to her, the NLP offers interactive simulations and cutting-edge courses in fields such as computer and agricultural science, empowering the younger generation with the requisite skills for the future.

She said teachers would benefit immensely from the platform by accessing invaluable resources for professional development, ensuring that they are adequately equipped to provide dynamic and interactive learning experiences.

“Parents and caregivers are not left out, as they can support their child’s learning trajectory, starting from an early age with the platform’s playful learning courses,” she said.

She quoted a 14-year old student of the Government Senior College Agege, Lagos, Miss Bolade Ayomide, to have commended the platform saying it had benefitted both learners and teachers in accessing educational resources.

“l stay on top of my class work at home or school, and I like that they are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week on the NLP platform.

“I was impressed at the selection of courses available on the NLP platform- everything from biology to mathematics to entrepreneurial and secretarial studies,” said Ayomide.

Launched in March 2022 by FME, UNICEF and powered by Microsoft, the NLP now operates actively across 18 states.

The platform has over 15,000 curriculum-aligned resources available in English, Hausa, lgbo and Yoruba languages to boast a versatile offering.

Users can also track their progress and achievements via the platform’s personal learning record. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)